The story behind the national gift

During the war years, Norway received substantial humanitarian aid from Sweden. The aid ranged from food to material goods, and the food aid included, among other things, the highly popular “Swedish soup.” In 1944, over one million servings of soup were distributed at 1,000 locations across the country. Countless truckloads were driven across the border and served to hungry war victims in churches and community centers. By the spring of 1945, the daily distribution had reached 317,000 servings.

Sweden also took in about 70,000 refugees. 15,000 of them received military training in the so-called “police troops.” These troops took part in the liberation in 1945. Perhaps the most famous effort, however, is “the White Buses,” a mission led by the Swedish Count Folke Bernadotte to rescue Norwegians and Danes held in German concentration camps. A total of 15,000 people were rescued, of whom about 8,000 were Norwegian and Danish prisoners.

Significant sums of money were raised through charitable organizations. But it was not until August 1942, when Svenska Norgehjälpen was established, that fundraising really took off. By May 1946, the campaign had donated approximately 72 million kronor to Norway, as well as gifts worth about six million. In today’s currency, the Swedish people donated over 2.5 billion in aid.

The national gift is presented

On May 9, 1955, the property was officially inaugurated with great ceremony, and in his speech, Norwegian Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen said the following:

The Norwegian people are gathering today to express their deepest gratitude to their Swedish brothers and sisters for their help during the harshest times of war and in the years of reconstruction that followed. At Voksenåsen, located 500 meters above sea level, the Swedish flag will be raised today and fly alongside the Norwegian flag over 30,000 square meters of land. A home will be built on this site for our neighbors. Nestled in lush forest, the property will be off the beaten path, yet still in the heart of Norway’s capital. Swedish women and men living in Norway will be able to experience the Norwegian landscape and culture. With this letter, we present the Voksenåsen property to the Swedish people.

To the youth

King Olav V and King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden were both present at the opening on October 2, 1960. The prime ministers of both countries were also in attendance. In his acceptance speech, Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander said:

Voksenåsen, which we are inaugurating today, is to become a spiritual hub. Here, young people’s interest in Norway and Norwegian culture will be awakened and nurtured. From here, a deeper knowledge and broader understanding between the peoples of Norway and Sweden will spread far and wide. It is a promising sign for the future that Norway’s national gift aims to place cultural cooperation and engagement with young people at the center.

Today, Voksenåsen is shaped by this vision. The nonprofit organization focuses on community life, language, and culture, with a particular emphasis on young people through Hågkomstresor, the Voksenåsen Music Academies, and the Nordic Youth Conference for Democracy.